Picks up germ from messengers (6)
I believe the answer is:
senses
'picks' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'up germ from messengers' is the wordplay.
'up' indicates anagramming the letters.
'from' suggests deleting specific letters.
'messengers' with 'germ' taken away is 'ssenes'.
'ssenes' with letters rearranged gives 'SENSES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for senses that I've seen before include "'Hearing, touch etc. (6)'" , "Sight, touch etc." , "Faculties for experiencing the world" , "Feels, perceives" , "Sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch" .)